April 29, 2012, Updated July 12, 2012

Israeli judokan Arik Zeevi celebrated victory at the European Judo Championships over the weekend. Zeevi won the gold medal in the under-100-kilogram weight class against Georgia’s Levan Zhorzholiani.

Arik Ze'evi
Judokan Arik Ze'evi. Photo by Moshe Milner

The Israeli team pocketed four medals at the contest in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

The 35-year-old Zeevi, a former European champion and Olympic medalist, became the oldest European champion in history.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I didn’t realize I would get so emotional over the victory…this is likely my last European championship, so I don’t know when I’ll again hear our national anthem on the podium,” Ze’evi told Ynet.

Zeevi is expected to be ranked eighth in the world following this weekend’s gold medal and sports fans hope that means a better draw in the upcoming London Olympic Games.

For news, features, videos and background information on the athletes, please visit olympics.israel21c.org.

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